Rob Austin will be joined by former GT racer Hunter Abbott for the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season, completing the Exocet Racing team line-up for the new campaign.
The Berkshire racer will take the wheel of the vacant second Audi A4 at Austin’s team, completing a strong line-up for the Exocet Racing squad with less than a week to go before the official Donington test during Media day on Tuesday 18 March.
Major sponsorship for the 33-year-old will come from award-winning alcohol breathalyser manufacturer, AlcoSense, Abbott an experienced hand in GT racing having competed at British GT and European level, as well as being a podium finisher in 2010 FIA GT4 rounds and recently finishing sixth in the BTCC-supporting Ginetta GT Supercup during 2012.
Abbott and Austin have been stable mates before in motorsport, previously competing in a Ginetta G50 together in the 2008 British GT Championship, finishing second as a pairing in the GT4 class as well as competing for Austin’s team in the Ginetta G50 championship.
Abbott said: “Watching the BTCC in the Nineties is what made me want to race in the first place. Racing in the BTCC is the realisation of part of a childhood dream and finally I’ve got an opportunity to do it – and with a team that’s clearly on the up. The deal has come together quite late but I got my first run in the Audi (Thursday Rockingham) and I’m pleased with how it went.
“Rob and I shared a car in 2008 in British GT and we like the same things. The power delivery in a turbo car took some getting used to but I immediately felt at home in the Audi.”
Austin himself added: “I’m very excited about having Hunter in the team – particularly having seen how quickly he got into the groove at Rockingham in less than ideal track conditions. He’s driven for me in the past and always been very rapid. All the team are immediately very impressed with his approach and we’re looking forward to the season together.”
